1 day Ago By Gopika Varrier
THRISSUR: As a classical Sanskrit theatre tradition, koodiyattam is revered for its heritage and style of performance. It is a matter of pride for Kerala that efforts are being made to preserve and nurture the centuries-old tradition. Despite the attention the art form has garnered, those involved in performing, teaching and learning it are yet to receive due recognition.
For the past one year, the Sangeet Natak Akademi, under the Ministry of Culture, has not disbursed monthly grants to koodiyattam centres in Kerala. The state has five koodiyattam centres which receive the akademi’s grant: Ammannur Gurukulam in Irinjalakkuda, Painkulam Kalapeedam, Nepathya Moozhikkulam, Margi Thiruvananthapuram, and Mani Madhava Gurukulam Lakkidi. A total of 30 artists, including teachers and students, have been receiving grants ranging from Rs 7,000 to Rs 14,000, based on seniority.
Since last April, these grants have not been forthcoming, affecting the lives of artists who have dedicated their life to this art form. According to acclaimed artist Margi Madhu Chakyar, “The disbursal of grants used to get disrupted frequently even in the past, but the akademi used to clear the dues with a lump-sum payment a months later. This time, however, it has been more than a year.
When we communicated the same, we received a response that the grant would be disbursed soon and that the delay was due to some fund-allocation issues.” The akademi sanctioned koodiyattam grants in 2003, when Unesco recognised it as a heritage art form. Disbursal of both festival and production grants are pending.
A production grant helps artists working on new choreography, while a festival grant encourages the hosting of koodiyattam festivals. “There are many youngsters who learn koodiyattam out of passion for the art form. Delaying grants will definitely dampen the spirit in the long run.
Being a performance art that has withstood the test of time, the art form and its artists deserve better from both the central and state governments,” an enthusiast said. He criticised the BJP, which claims to uphold the country’s heritage, for ignoring art forms such as koodiyattam after coming to power at the Centre. According to artists, the central grant is more like a honorarium, which recognises the efforts of the koodiyattam fraternity in keeping the art form alive.
Despite the central government’s efforts, neither the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi nor the state cultural affairs department has made any efforts at encouraging the art form or its artists..
